Doggie Obedience School Helps Fido Expect When You’re Expecting

Dog trainers in the United States and Canada have developed special obedience programs for dogs whose owners intend to bring children into the household.

For $300, dog trainers can purchase a specific training program called “Dogs & Storks,” launched in 2006, from its creators. According to the Wall Street Journal, the program currently has 35 affiliate trainers and is aimed at “baby proofing” dogs.

The effectiveness of these programs varies. According to Boston trainer Jenifer Vickery of The Pawsitive Dog, each dog responds differently. She explains that some “can accomplish [obedience] in 8 classes,” whereas “others may require 22 classes or 40 classes.” In addition, Vickery warns, some dogs that happily accepted a first child have difficulty accommodating a second.

Dog-owning couples who expect children are turning to professional dog trainers and professional advice to help them prepare their pets for the transition in family dynamics. According to the Wall Street Journal, “At least a half-dozen dog-baby books and DVDs are on the market, with titles like ‘Your Baby and Bowser.’ A canine re-education course called Dogs & Storks, launched in 2006, now has 35 affiliated trainers in the U.S. and Canada, with hundreds of graduates.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) dogs attack approximately 4.7 million people each year, prompting 800,000 to seek medical attention. In addition, “the rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years.” The CDC outlines several measures that can be taken to prevent dog attacks.

CNN reports that children are more likely to be bitten because they are closer to the dog’s size. According to pet therapist Patricia McDonnell, dogs often view children as playmates instead of leaders because of their comparable size. McDonnell explains that dog society is arranged hierarchically, and young children seem like low-ranked people who can therefore be pushed around.

Healthypet.com, a branch of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) examines dog bite rates in the United States with a focus on the 10 breeds most often reported for attacking humans: pit bulls, rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies, malamutes, Dobermans, chow chows, St. Bernards, Great Danes and Akitas. According to the AAHA, “breeds that are not bred for aggression, including golden retrievers, cocker spaniels, and Yorkshire terriers, have been involved in fatal attacks as well.”

Americans spend $41 billion a year on their pets: “more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world,” Business Week reports. “The rising status of pets has started an unprecedented wave of entrepreneurship…There are now $430 indoor potties, $30-an-ounce perfume, and $225 trench coats aimed solely at four-footed consumers and their wallet-toting companions,” the piece explains.

FindingDulcinea reported that some dog owners are extremely attached to their dogs: “A research study at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, showed that some dog lovers feel more attached to their dogs than to their dads,” the piece reports.